Contents

Truebirth – Born in the laboratory, these genetically engineered soldiers train to be the ultimate warriors. They are the elite pilots of the Clan's fearsome BattleMech war machines.

Freebirth – Born of the natural union of parents, these too are soldiers, but pale imitations of their truebirth superiors. Depised for their imperfections, they fight where and when their Clan commands.

Some years after the events depicted in Way of the Clans, Aidan (posing as the freeborn Jorge) is serving as a Star Commander perfoming garrison duty on Glory. He is leading a star of freeborn MechWarriors (among them his long-term comrade Horse) under the command of Star ColonelKael Pershaw. Beeing assigned only the crudest tasks, trueborns would not be bothered with, he grows more and more dissatisfied with his situation.
His pride and unwillingness to back down from the insults of arrogant trueborns, result him constantly beeing involved in conflicts and fights. Because of his killing of the trueborn MechWarrior Bast in a Bar Fight, he is punished by Kael Pershaw. However, soon after a Clan Wolf force arrives in the System, declaring a Trial of Posession for the genetic material of Star Colonel Kael Pershaw. Because of the destruction of arriving Jade Falcon forces in space by Wolf Aerospace Fighters, Pershaw's forces are severely outnumbered. By implementing a plan inspired by reading poetry in his secret book collection, Aidan is instrumental in achieving victory over the wolf forces led by Star CaptainDwillt Radick.

Following this victory, Aidan reveals himself to Pershaw as a trueborn warrior. Word has reached him of an available Pryde Bloodname, and he intends to participate in the competition. A shocked and outraged Kael Pershaw orders Aidan to be bound until a formal Trial before the Clan Council on Ironhold, along with Star Captain Joanna, whose Trinary has been transferred to Glory Station just prior to the battle with Clan Wolf.
There, together with Falconer Commander Ter Roshak, they are judged guilty but demand to fight the verdict with a Trial of Refusal. Despite the odds of three to one, they manage to win the trial (mainly due to the superior abilities and tactical intelligence of Aidan), reversing the judgement of the council.

The following day, Aidan fights again in the Grand Melee, beeing this his only chance of winning a Slot for the Bloodname competition, since no Bloodnamed Warrior would ever nominate him due to the stain on his career. He succeeds, and eventually wins the Bloodname.